Patel takes The Atlantic to court, but “actual malice” standard looms large

In response, The Atlantic said it stands by its reporting and called the suit “meritless.”

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FBI Director Kash Patel’s $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic faces a steep legal climb under the demanding standard public figures must meet to prevail in defamation cases.

A “malicious hit piece”?

The suit, which was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names the magazine and …